Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-11-10
PROFIT IN GEESE.
A Few Words About the Most Remunera
tive of All Fowls.


1t is considered by some that geese
are the most profitable of domesti-
Gated fowls that farmers can keep. /
agree with this, provided the farmer
has place adapted to keep them,
otherwise / should not. Geese, like
turkeys, require considerable range in
order to thrive. especially when young
and growing. They should be fed
two or three times day on corn or
corn dough, until they get enough of
fresh or young grass to continue their
growth steadily, and all the time have
free access to living water. For a
flock of thirty, say twenty-six Cos
lings and four old geese, they should
have a range of twenty acres, though
they would not require all the feed
that might grow thereon. as other ami
mails that will feed after them can be
kept also. Whether they are kept on
less or greater area, there should be
and must be fresh or living water
with a brook or pond continually for
them to wash in as often as they de-
sire. Unless this be the case they will
soon get lousy, begin to droop their
wings. pine away and die. though
this can be partially averted by daily
feeding on corn or dough.
1t is seldom that young goslings are
subject to any disease, and they are
quite sure to live with ordinary care;
yet they are very tender until they ar.
rive at maturity, and are affected by
disease, when it attacks them, quite as
soon as any other domesticated fowls.
A heavy rain upon brood of young
goslings, unprotected. will be as sure
death to them as it would upon a
brood of young chickens; while light
warm rain or a pond of water is hap
piness perfected to them and but little
less to an observer.
Geese are not only kept for the
market, or for their flesh. but as well
for their feathers. They generally begin
laying the latter part of February, OF
the first part of March, and usually lay
every other day, and continue, though
not always regularly, until they have
laid their itter-from ten to twelve
eggs-when they begin sitting, and in
about thirty days they bring out their
brood.
As soon as the weather is sufficiently
warm or about the time the feathers
begin to start on the goslings, the old
geese should be picked by taking off
all the small or bed feathers. but never
any of the down. Handle the goose
carefully while plueking her feathers
Never lock her wings in picking, nor
cramp or bruise them in any way. In
about ten weeks the old geese can and
should be picked again. and the gos-
lings picked also if they have been
kept as stated, or in thriving condi-
ton. Taking this course in the proper
time, or as soon as the feathers have
grown out and matured. cid geese an
be picked three times and goslings
twice in a season before shutting up
for fattening. and will. with those
taken off when the geese are dressed,
average about one pound of feathers to
goose. Many are very careless in
picking their geese at the proper time
and in proper manner, while others
do not pick them at all, considering
that they do better in thus doing, or
not doing. This is not the case, as I
know by actual trial, besides knowing
it to be the experience of others quail
fled to judge. When geese are In
jured in picking it is to be attributed
more and / may say wholly to the
improper time and manner in which
they are picked rather than because
they are picked. Cor. Farm and
Home.